Midyear Meeting

June 19-20

Will you be there?

And don't miss

EXPO 2007

June 21-23

See you in Atlanta!

June 8, 2007

SPC Agenda Details Announced

The Southern Pine Council, a joint effort of SFPA and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA), has spread the word about the advantages Southern Pine lumber products for almost two decades. Reviewing progress and planning new efforts will be the focus of a full slate of SPC committee meetings to be held during SFPA’s Midyear Meeting in less than two weeks in Atlanta, Ga.

“Our members should find this Midyear Meeting especially interesting,” said SFPA Vice President of Marketing Steve Bean.  “The agendas for the Southern Pine Council and all four SPC committees contain reports on our progress this year and issues that need our attention, as well as discussions about possible activities for 2008. Despite less than optimal market conditions at the moment, this is a meeting our members need to attend.”

For example, members will hear an update on SPC’s Raised Floor Living Campaign, a key initiative that encourages design/build professionals and homeowners to consider the numerous advantages of converting from concrete slabs to raised floor foundations. Consumers and the forest products industry both benefit if the campaign succeeds. Homeowners receive reduced flood risk, easier access for repairs and increased protection against pests. The industry, meanwhile, gains increased sales. “We estimate that a house with a crawlspace uses 1/3 more wood than a home on a concrete slab,” Bean said.

Here’s a printable PDF copy of the full SPC agenda. If you haven’t already done so, please register for the SFPA Midyear Meeting today. For information, contact Dianne Breaux at 504/443-4464, ext. 225, or dbreaux@sfpa.org. The meeting is June 19-20 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.

EXPO 2007 Attracts New Exhibitors

Don’t forget to schedule time for a stop at EXPO 2007 when making travel plans for SFPA’s Midyear Meeting.  The 240 businesses and organizations set to display their products and services include 50 first-time EXPO exhibitors. EXPO happens June 21-23 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. On-site registration is only $10 and that covers all three days. Visit www.sfpaexpo.com for more information. Special note: EXPO attendees can receive a 10% discount on tickets to the Georgia Aquarium by purchasing their tickets through the Aquarium’s Web site.

Time to Recognize Creative Uses of SP

Have you seen an especially creative use of Southern Pine lately? If you know a designer, builder, engineer or other professional who has creatively or uniquely demonstrated the use of Southern Pine in commercial or residential construction, please nominate him or her for the Southern Pine Council’s 2007 Long-Sullivan Award. The award will be presented at SFPA’s Annual Meeting, set for Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 in Charleston, S.C.  

The Long-Sullivan Award is named after two early 20^th century pioneers of the Southern Pine lumber industry – Robert A. Long and W.H. Sullivan.  SPC presented the first award to New York City architect Dennis Wedlick at SFPA’s 2005 Annual Meeting in Destin, Fla.  Dennis, known for his striking residential designs, received the award because of his appreciation for and liberal use of Southern Pine. 

Please take part in a program that encourages and recognizes design/build professionals for their use of SP by completing and returning your nomination form to SFPA before Aug. 22.  For more information, contact Russell Richardson, SFPA’s director of industrial markets, at 504/443-4464, ext. 239, or rrichardson@sfpa.org.  

SFPA’s Kaake Earns Floodplain Management Status

Cathy Kaake, SFPA’s director of engineered and framing markets, has earned the designation of Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM^®) from the Association of State Floodplain Managers. The association grants certification only to professionals who meet certain requirements and pass an exam on programs and standards designed to reduce the nation’s flood losses. Cathy, who holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin, says the certification will aid her efforts to educate public officials and design/build professionals on the importance of using raised floor construction to reduce flood risk for homeowners.

It’s a message she recently delivered to floodplain managers from three coastal states. She was lead speaker at the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association’s 24^th Annual Conference in April and then addressed floodplain managers from Mississippi and Alabama at a similar conference in May. In a presentation called “Reducing Flood Losses Through the International Code,” Cathy explained how raised floor construction helps meet International Residential Code (IRC) requirements without adversely impacting neighboring properties. “At both conferences, this led to a discussion about issues caused when fill is used to elevate structures rather than raised floor systems,” she said. Cathy also provided examples of wood-frame buildings built to prescribed wind standards that performed well during hurricane conditions. In addition to speaking, she interacted with participants and distributed literature. “The SPC exhibit was very popular,” she reported. “Every last copy of our literature was snatched up by attendees at both conferences on the very first day, including our raised floor literature, span tables and the American Wood Council’s Wood Frame Construction Manual guides.”

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